Pool Needs A Shot Clock

People play slow for two reasons:

1. They think they look intelligent doing all of that thinking.
2. They are slowing down their opponent to try and keep him from getting in stroke.

95% of all shots (by good players) are decided within 10 seconds and the rest of the time is meant to keep his opponent off the table as long as possible. This is simply a sharking move and shouldn't be allowed.

I think those are 2 of many reasons people play slow. The obvious third on your list is that they just want to make the right choice, shoot it in, do it right. And that is tougher for some than others.

KMRUNOUT
 
Shot Clock

Here's a purpose built, one touch shot timer / shot clock / timeout clock built for pool. It can be set in 5 sec increments from 20-55 seconds

The scorekeeper 2.0 timer page, on a large tablet, is a cost effective solution to this problem and works well in any tournament room. It has an adjustable buzzer that can be turned on and off, and anyone can use it on a cell phone too!

Apple Users - App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scorekeeper-2.0/id731192268?mt=8

Android users - Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.runoutapps.scorekeeper
 

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I don't know of any sports or games that you have no clock on you. It's boring watching players stand and stare at a shot for a minute or more, then get down and up on the shot three times to walk around the table again and look at the same thing. What do they think it could have moved? Or they don't remember what they saw the first three times they looked. Not fair to the other player and not fair to the fans that paid good money...for what? To watch a statue every other shot. Just one of the many things why pool will never grow. Johnnyt

Hi Johnny, even though i hate to watch slow players, like you, but the fact is pool never meant to be enjoyed by other that the two shooters; just like Casino gambling, and it is unfortunate, a player must do everything in his power to win, at the end of the day, players would say screw viewers, and streamers i want to win! speaking of myself, and many others, i have never been fortunate enough to be at a final of a US open or world cup of pool, at that level every little mistakes hurts, and slowing down and taking your time is a must, and a skill, not every player can slow down, and that is why many fast players loose tournaments, you know who i am speaking about.
The other side of the conversation, if your horse player is slowing down, i do not think you would mind it, or would you?
 
From my limited experience from playing leagues, by the time you realize your opponent is too slow it may be too late. If I'm going to call a ref over because you're slow, then the ref will put us both on a shot clock to be fair. Unless the player is habitually slow, usually you don't know

From league play, my captain usually doesn't bother to time my opponents time outs, because then the other team could retaliate when you need to spend extra time on the game ball.

Maybe a chess clock would be the solution. Allot each player an equal amount of time for each game. Player B turns starts when Player A sits down, and vice versa. If Player A takes a long time getting back to his/her seat then he's penalizing himself. It's up to them whether/how they want to use it.

The newer digital chess clocks have more features than the older analog clocks. Here is my idea of a rolling shot clock that can be implemented on newer digital check clock. Rolling shot clock, where you can bank unused time from the last 5 shots.

Player A 15, 15, 15, 15, and 90 on the final shot to win the game.
Player B, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30

In a prior thread, someone ask why don't more tournaments use magic racks. Theft was cited as possible issue, which could be minimized by giving out the rack at time of table assignment and turning it in to report your score. Same with the shot clock.

I want to start using a stop watch when playing and take exactly the same amount of time they take. I would use this time to maybe clean my nails, check my messages on my phone, get a drink, talk to other players, I wonder how that would go over??
 

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I know that some if not all the Accu-Stats make it happen events were on the clock.
The clock did not seem to make a difference to the players in those matches.
 
I know that some if not all the Accu-Stats make it happen events were on the clock.
The clock did not seem to make a difference to the players in those matches.

But it made a difference (positively) for the viewers.

It's a joke that any so called professional would need more than 30 seconds with a 30 second extension for any shot.
 
But it made a difference (positively) for the viewers.

It's a joke that any so called professional would need more than 30 seconds with a 30 second extension for any shot.

If a player comes to the table after a safety he may need some extra time to work things out.
I don't like the idea of a shot clock but if you must. Then the clock starts after the incoming player makes his first shot. He is the one in control now and he need to get on with business. I think that would be very fair. There is no need for someone to shoot a shot get position and then stand there and stare.
 
But it made a difference (positively) for the viewers.

It's a joke that any so called professional would need more than 30 seconds with a 30 second extension for any shot.

I disagree BeiberLvr, majority of players are fortunate of good brain, others might have great mechanics but lack the ability to think quick, i would not want to deny them the opportunity, it is not fair IMO.
 
I know that some if not all the Accu-Stats make it happen events were on the clock.
The clock did not seem to make a difference to the players in those matches.

The 1pocket make it happen was played with a 60 sec. clock and it did make a difference. In difficult spots one min. is not enough time. I think I remember Efren fouling because he failed to shoot before the clock ran out.

I liked the clock and it moved the players along very well.

When gambling I don't care how long a guy takes as long as he's betting high enough to make it worth my while. When I'm in the chair I'm studying the table (one pocket). I'm not a fast or slow player but neither bothers me at all when gambling.

ONB
 
I agree there should be a shot clock. Because pool is strategy game, is reason even more so (like chess). But I would think there would be issues with it in a non refereed game. The actually execution and implementation of it in a league level game or a tournament could be prone to controversy. For instance, when the clock is to start, breaks, time-outs, etc. Also, most likely a conservative time would be used as the limit (say 45 secs) and this could actually, in an ironic way, end up slowing down play. As now players might feel more comfortable using the "legal" amount of time which is longer than their pace would be for a game without a clock.
 
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From my limited experience from playing leagues, by the time you realize your opponent is too slow it may be too late. If I'm going to call a ref over because you're slow, then the ref will put us both on a shot clock to be fair. Unless the player is habitually slow, usually you don't know

From league play, my captain usually doesn't bother to time my opponents time outs, because then the other team could retaliate when you need to spend extra time on the game ball.

Maybe a chess clock would be the solution. Allot each player an equal amount of time for each game. Player B turns starts when Player A sits down, and vice versa. If Player A takes a long time getting back to his/her seat then he's penalizing himself. It's up to them whether/how they want to use it.

The newer digital chess clocks have more features than the older analog clocks. Here is my idea of a rolling shot clock that can be implemented on newer digital check clock. Rolling shot clock, where you can bank unused time from the last 5 shots.

Player A 15, 15, 15, 15, and 90 on the final shot to win the game.
Player B, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30

In a prior thread, someone ask why don't more tournaments use magic racks. Theft was cited as possible issue, which could be minimized by giving out the rack at time of table assignment and turning it in to report your score. Same with the shot clock.

Buying hardware is not cost effective.

The app is integrated directly into the TAP leagues digital score sheet making it available to any scorekeeper at any time. It counts up silently for reference and counts down with sound when a player is put on the clock.. Both scorekeepers can run it at the same time and its has virtually eliminated questions and arguments "over how much and who said".

I think going to a chess format would change the way the players play the game. This timer is more suited to improve the traditional full race league night experience. Try it out, it can be used for any league using the link in the menu.
 

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